Barça achieves a rout against Brest

This Tuesday, Barcelona put an end to the slump in results in which it was immersed. The team led by Hansi Flick thrashed Brest at the Lluis Companys in a match that they had under control at all times and in which the abysmal distance that separates both teams became clear. The double from Lewandowski, who already has 101 goals in the Champions League, and another from Dani Olmo were enough to take another step on the path to be directly in the round of 16 and avoid the previous round.

The game was an opportunity for Barça and that was in the air. It was because the two league failures were still alive, because winning meant putting themselves at the top of the standings and because Lewandowski had it in his power to enter a select group that included only Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi. There it is nothing. The culés came out with that in mind and took the lead at the start against a Brest team that entered bravely, but was soon going to realize that the stage on this occasion was going to be difficult.

And Flick brought into play all the artillery he has at his disposal. Lamine Yamal was not there, but there was no need for him to be. Pedri went down to the midfield, Raphinha positioned himself on the right and Fermín López took the left for the benefit of Dani Olmo and Lewandowski, who gained a new player to take unmarked shots. The plan was the usual one. Barça pressed like a pack of wolves, stole in the opposing half and took possession of the ball at the first opportunity. The goal fell almost under its own weight after Pedri found Lewandowski and Bizot, after a bad start, overwhelmed the Pole. It was a gift that the former Bayern player did not waste from the spot to open the scoring and achieve his 100th goal in the Champions League.

It was the beginning of torture for Brest, unaccustomed to having to cede the initiative to its rival. The French swung against the good circulation of Marc Casadó and Pedri in the center of the field and against a Barça team that knew how to alternate the position of its three playmakers. Raphinha, very participative, shot narrowly wide and Fermín had the clearest chances but failed to find the goal after a back pass from the Brazilian and ran into Bizot on his second attempt. It was the epilogue of a first half in which the culés went from more to less and in which they arrived at half-time with the feeling of having stopped halfway.

After the restart, Barça went all out in search of the calming goal. Flick’s team expanded the playing field with Raphinha and a participatory Gerard Martín and the match became a monologue. Brest couldn’t get out of their own half and chances began to arrive as if they were a shot on target. Fermín met Bizot again, Chardonnet denied Dani Olmo the goal under the sticks and the former Leipzig player was the one who broke the wall after a slalom that ended up finishing at the bottom to the frustration of Eric Roy’s team, unable to contain a superior rival.

The second goal helped Barça win in peace and for the culés to enjoy the sound of Marc Casadó and Pedri, a couple who are on their way to establishing themselves in the midfield and who can be a fundamental stone in building the future of the club. Flick gave minutes to Gavi, Balde and Pablo Torre and urged his team to maintain intensity in the final stretch and learn from past mistakes such as those made in Vigo when the game was almost dying. No sooner said than done. Barça wanted to round off the task and did so through Lewandowski, who received it in the area and scrambled to score the third and seal a balmy victory after the setbacks in the League.